U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States needs to get its economy growing in order to continue investing in international development.

Speaking at a forum of business and political leaders and philanthropists Wednesday, Mr. Obama made his latest pitch for his $447-billion jobs-creation proposal.

The president said the United Nations remains the world's largest economy, despite high unemployment, a growing national debt and other economic woes. He said this means that getting the U.S. economy to grow will by extension help other markets grow.

President Obama has been traveling around the country trying to gather support for his American Jobs Act, which would spend tens of billions of dollars on new public works projects, extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and help states and localities avoid layoffs of teachers and emergency workers.

It is currently under consideration by Congress, but Republicans there have dismissed the plan. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner has said there are opportunities for common ground, but that excessive regulation, government spending and the current tax code threaten job creation.

The U.S. unemployment rate is about 9 percent.

Mr. Obama's speech was part of the third annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, an organization founded by former president Bill Clinton.

The group's invitation-only event in New York brings together heads of state, business and religious leaders, media figures, and top philanthropists to discuss ways to bring about social change. Topics for this year's three-day meeting include creating jobs, sustainable consumption, and increasing the reach of programs that empower women.